Keynote & Concurrent
Session Speakers
*** Keynote and concurrent sessions will not be recorded. Please plan accordingly. ***
Speakers for the 2025 International Quilting Day celebration will be announced at a later date.
Archived 2024 Speakers
Kaffe Fassett
Colour Inspiration
The Kaffe Fassett lecture is designed to inspire and motivate. Kaffe’s online lecture presentation highlights work from projects and collaborations, past and present, including his patchwork, fabric, needlepoint, mosaics, painting and knitting designs. Kaffe’s inspiration comes from his travels throughout the world. His lecture is designed not so much to instruct but to empower and inspire the audience to create and develop their “mind’s eye.” You will be invigorated, entranced by Kaffe’s sense and use of colour, and be ready to try it yourself. You are encouraged to do so.
Website: https://www.kaffefassett.com/
Dana Jones
Pagtinabangay: The Quilts and Quiltmakers of Caohagan Island
You’ll be transported to a tiny island — just 13 acres — in the central Philippines as you enjoy images and stories of the colorful quilts and the more than 100 quiltmakers of Caohagan Island. You’ll see photos of more than 50 of these handmade, one-of-a-kind quilts plus be introduced to the unique techniques developed by these quiltmakers whose tools are simply fabric and scissors, needle and thread. I spent more than a month on the island, quilted with the residents, went fabric shopping with them on nearby Cebu Island, and snorkeled the reef that surrounds Caohagan. Those who view the quilts come away smiling, inspired by the creativity of these women and men.
Website: https://www.danajonesquilts.com/
Laura Coia
Sew Very Easy
Laura Coia is the founder and celebrity host of the successful and inspiring SewVeryEasy YouTube channel . She is a Bernina ambassador and has been awarded the Silver Creator Award by YouTube and an Ultimate Zoomer Award by ZoomerMedia Limited.
Laura is a freelance seamstress, educator, and registered professional with over 45 years of experience in teaching, quilting, tailoring, garment repairs, and garment construction. She teaches all aspects of sewing and quilting while motivating people to spend quality time in the sewing room.
Laura is also a published pattern designer and author of three books. She has written for various sewing and quilting magazines, holds seminars and workshops, and does trunk shows as well as speaking engagements.
Laura’s greatest joy is helping and encouraging others to enjoy what our foremothers have enjoyed for many, many years: sewing and quilting. She wants her students to take pride in their work—whether it’s perfect or not—and to let their creations bring them and those around them joy and happiness.
Website: https://sewveryeasy.com/
Concurrent Session 1 Speakers
Maggie Dillon – Art Quilts & Fiber Collages Virtual Trunk Show – Maggie comes to us from Florida. Her lecture and trunk show features Maggie’s journey through quilts that combine portraiture, traditional techniques and fine art. Hear the stories behind the creation of many award-winning quilts. If you are interested in exploring the idea of art quilting and see the influences that inspire this type of work – this trunk show will be for you! Maggie is an award-winning quilter. Leave inspired to try something new!
Website: https://www.maggiedillondesigns.com/
Sarah Humphreys – Cultivate Confidence in Free Motion Quilting – You may have heard that the key to confident free motion quilting is practice – but how do you do this? What should you practice? How can you improve your technique? Sarah is an experienced and enthusiastic free motion quilter. She will share a range of creative quilting exercises in this session to advance your quilting skills. Advice will be given on selecting tools and materials and there will be a wealth of tips and tricks for cultivating your quilting confidence. Make sure you have a notebook!!
Vanessa Génier – QFS our Journey: Past, Present, and Future – Join Vanessa Genier, the Founder and CEO of Quilts for Survivors also know as the Quilter with a heart of gold. As she shares where QFS is on its journey of healing. See how this grassroots project has taken steps to allow Canadians be in involved in a tangible way with Truth & Reconciliation.
Website: https://www.quiltsforsurvivors.ca/
Concurrent Session 2 Speakers
Emily Bailey – Emily is a blogger, quilter, teacher and author, who will share her lecture called, “Bits of Joy”. Emily’s most recent book is called ‘Crumb Quilts—Scrap Quilting the Zero Waste Way’. In her trunk show, Emily will inspire us to use our own piles of scraps to explore possibilities, discover hidden treasures, and create beautiful quilts. If you are a collector of scraps, or are looking for ways to use them, be sure to attend Emily’s lecture.
Website: https://auntemsquilts.com/
Peter Byrne – Behind the Seams – Peter takes you through his own personal quilting journey sharing completed quilts and “how to” photos along the way. He is an award-winning Modern Quilter with a passion for innovation and design.
Website: https://peterbquilts.com/
Michael Smith – My Quilting Journey – From an early age, Michael expressed his creativity, imagination, and flair for design; particularly when creating new fashions for his sister’s Barbie dolls. Tin Foil was his “fabric” of choice.
With two diplomas in Fashion Design, Michael caught the quilting bug when his eldest niece was born. Now, over 30 years and hundreds of quilts later, Michael shares his passion for sewing, quilting and creating from his quilt shop, The Sewcial Quilter Inc. in Clarksburg, ON. With the help of his longarm quilting machine, aka Marilyn, Michael continues his mission to assist, support and empower quilters while single-handedly saving every scrap of fabric from landfill.
Website: https://www.thesewcialquilter.ca/